Combined lawn-rake and snow-scoop.



PATBNTED JULY 31, 1906; R. P. LAWSON.

COMBINED LAWN BAKE AND SNOW SCOOP. IIIIIIIIIIIIIII n 1J oooooooo 5.

lNNUU!!! I NHHHUINNW' iran STATES PATENT OFFII.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1906.

Application filed December 1, 1905. SerialNo. 289.914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD FRANKLIN LAWSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Eflingham, in the county of Effingham andState of Illinois, have invented cer- 4 tain new and useful Improvementsin a Com- My invention is an improved implement.

especially designed for use in raking lawns and in shoveling snow andwhich may also be utilized for other pur o'ses, comprising deviceswhereby to readi y adjust the several parts of the implement to adapt itto any of said uses g and the invention con'sists in certain novelconstructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described andclaimed. j

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a erspective view of the implement adjustedor use as a lawn-rake. Fig. 2is a similar view showing the partsadjusted for use as a snow-scoop. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective viewshowing one corner of the body portion before the end of the back plateis turned alongside the rear edge of the side plate, and Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of one corner of the complete body.

As shown, the implement comprises a body A, which may be of galvanizedsheetiron or other suitable material, and is formed with a base-plate Aa back plate A2, and side plates A3, the back plate and side platesbeing of sufficient height to form a rece. tacle for the snow or cutgrass, according to t e use of the invention.

The body portion is preferably constructed from a single sheet of metalwhose rear edge is folded upon itself in three thicknesses, as shown. atB, and the said sheet of metal is slitted from both ends at O a distanceequal to the height of the side plates A3, and the said side plates areturned up at a right angle to the base-plate A and the back plateA2 isalso turned up at a corresponding angle to the base-plate, and the endWings or extensions D of the back plate beyond the side platesyA3 areturned forwardly along the outer faces of the side plates and areriveted thereto at E,

as clearly shown in the drawings. 'The back plate and side plates A3 area proximately the same height, and the wings of the back plate thusformbraces lfor the side plates and also a stron bearing for theoutwardlyturned ends o the bail F, presently described,

5 5 the strength of this bearing being increased by the threefoldthickness of the upper edge of the back plate and this folding of theback plate at .its upper edge also affording sufficient strength andrigidity for the connection of the section of the hinge G with the backplate, as presently described.

It will be noticed that the side plates flare somewhat toward the frontedge of the body portion, making the panwider at the front than at theback, and ordinarily in practice I find it gives good resultsto make thepan or body portion about nineteen inches wide at the back and twentyinches wide at thefront. The side plates are also doubled at their upperedges at A, givingincreased strength to the parts at such point.

The front edge of the base-plate A is proi vided with a series ofwell-rounded teeth A5,

forming it into practically a comb, which in operation will not disturbthe roots of growing grass, but will pick up all loose grass, acorns,peachseeds, or, pebbles, or other foreign substances, leaving the lawnin good condition. At the same time the teeth will not clog like thoseof an ordinary rake even in the thickest or Wet grass.

A handle H is connected by the hinge G with the upper edge of the topplate of the body A, so it can be swung to either of the positions shownin Figs. l and 2, and for securing it in such positions I employ a bailF having its end studs F pivoted in the side plates A3 and in the foldedportion of the wings D of the body ortion and connected at its middle bythe sfide I and the clamp J in the form of a set-screw to the handle,the

bail F being ivoted at its middle in the side j plates I of t e slide Iat one side of the handle H and the set-screw J being turned through thecross-bar of said slide at the opposite side from the crossing of thebail F, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2. To adjust the handle'from one position to the other, it is only necessary to loosen thesetscrew, swing the handle to the desired posif tion, and again tightenthe set-screw, when the implement is ready for use.

It will be found that the implement may also be used as a hoe, beingespecially useful on freshly-plowedground, which it will level in goodshape and more readily than an ordinary hoe or rake. The scoop or shovelwill also be found useful for mixing mortar, the teeth or combedgerendering it especially def sirable for such pur ose.

For cleaning sta s instables or removing mud from street-crossings thisimplement IOO IVIO

willbe found superior to any other now in use for like purposes.

Aand Aits projecting ends or Wings extend* ing alongside the upturnedside plates, the handle hinged to the folded upper edge of theback-plate, the'bail pivoted at its ends to the side plates, and thefolded upper edge of the' projectinglwings of the back plate, a slidemovable along the handle and pivoted to the bail at the middle thereof,and a set-screw for securing the said slide in different adjustmentsu'pon the handle, substantially as set forth. j

2. The combined rake and shovel or scoop, comprising la body.portionhaving a baseplate, side lates, and back plate, a handle inged to t eback plate, aibail pivoted at its ends to the side plates, a slideconnected with the bail and movable along the handle, and means forsecuring the slide in different adjustments upon the handle,substantially as set forth.

3. vAn implement substantially as described, com rising the body portionhaving j a bottom p ate, side plates projecting'up-l side the sideplates, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the bodyv portion having a bottom plate, sideplates, and a back plate, a handle hinged to the back plate, and meansfor securing the handle in different adjustinents relative to the bodyportion, substantially as set forth. 5. The ,convertible shovel andscoop, comprising the body portion having a bottom plate, provided atits front edge wi th rounded teeth, the side plates, and back plate,thchandle hinged to the back plate, and means for securing the handle indifferent adjustments relative to the body portion, substantially as setforth.

RICHARD FRANKLIN LAWSON.

Witnesses:

. H. B. WEMSING,

B. G. ENsIGN.

